I recently read an article questioning the treatment of Minnesota Vikings greats by the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. It was about the voter's treatment of Jim Marshall in particular and the Vikings in general. I can understand most of the author's issues because I once had them. Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page should've been first ballot Hall of Famers. Tarkenton waited two years. Page waited one. Those waits aren't long but they felt disrespectful. Tarkenton held every career passing record in the books. Page was one of the greatest defensive tackles the game had ever seen and he once took home the league's MVP award. No defensive player had ever accomplished that before him and only one since. The only other defensive player to take home the league's MVP was Lawrence Taylor. He probably sailed into the Hall without a vote. Cris Carter's six-year wait was an undeserved eternity. Paul Krause, Rony Yary, and Carl Eller, and Mick Tingelhoff had to wait decades. Tingelhoff finally got his call 37 years after he retired. There was a time in the mid-90s when the Vikings were very-underrepresented in Canton. It was only Tarkenton, Page, Bud Grant, and Jim Finks. That really isn't the case anymore. Most of the Vikings greats from the 1960s and 1970s saw their long waits finally end around the turn of the century. John Randle, Randall McDaniel, and Gary Zimmerman made it without much hassle. Carter's modest wait finally came to an end. When Tingelhoff's long wait finally ended and Randy Moss made it in his first year of eligibility it sure felt like the Vikings were getting Hall of Frame respect. Steve Hutchinson's induction this summer will bring the team's Hall population to 15. Only 12 teams have more. Of the teams that have been around for as long as the Vikings, only the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders have more. The Cowboys have 19 HOFers. The Raiders have 17. Those two teams have a combined eight Lomabardis to their name. The Vikings have zero. For a team that has zero Lombardi Trophies in the case, 15 Hall of Famers feels pretty robust. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins are in a whole other category when it comes to Hall of Fame representation. The first three have been around since the 1920s. The Redskins have been around since 1932. Those teams basically were the NFL from the late 1920s through the 1940s. The Bears and Packers in particular. The Pittsburgh Steelers now rival those "founding" teams. The Steelers dominated a decade like few teams ever have. After being terrible for nearly forty years they have been one of the league's most consistently competitive teams since the 1970s. It's no surprise to see their Hall of Fame total at 23. The Vikings are in the thick of the next group of teams. These are the teams with Hall of Fame representation in the upper-teens. The Vikings are the only team in this group that hasn't won multiple titles, let alone a single one. Having 15 of their greats honored in Canton feels like a lot for a team that started play 41 years after the start of the league and has yet to win a title. The Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals are the oldest team in the league and have won two titles. They have 14 HOFers. The Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs have been around since 1960 and have won two Super Bowls. The first of which was over the Vikings. The Chiefs have 13 HOFers. The Philadelphia Eagles have been around since 1933 and have won four titles. They have 11 HOFers. 15 HOFers shouldn't feel disrespectful for a team that has been around for as long as the Vikings and for a team that has yet to win that final game. Jared Allen should make it 16. Adrian Peterson will make it five years after he retires. If he ever retires. Sure, I think that Chuck Foreman and Joey Browner are deserving of Hall of Fame consideration. Personally, I think that Antoine Winfield was a Hall of Fame player. And then we have Jim Marshall. The Hall of Fame debate of Marshall has cost me so much sleep. I'm a Vikings fan. I also have a tremendous passion and a great respect for the league's history. There may not be a more important player in the Vikings franchise history than Marshall. But I'm not quite sure that he was a Hall of Fame player. He was a Hall of Fame captain, leader, and teammate. He showed up for work every single day of his long career as a defensive end. The only players that have played more consecutive games didn't hit and get hit on every single play. Marshall has some Hall of Fame playing credentials (fumble recoveries and consecutive games played). But I don't think that his play tips the Hall of Fame scale quite enough. After all, he was the third best player on his own defensive line. But maybe Page and Eller reached their greatness because of Marshall's greatness. Who really knows? Just when I start feeling sad but ok with Marshall being just outside the Hall, I see a player like Ed Sprinkle make it as a member of the Centennial Class. If Sprinkle is a Hall of Fame defensive end, then Marshall most certainly is. That's the sort of thing that tips the scale Marshall's way. He's just so damn close to that Hall of Fame line for me. I just don't know. I hope that Jim Marshall makes it soon. If for no other reason, I can then stop this internal wrestling and finally get some sleep.
Since I prattled on so long about Hall of Fame numbers I figured that it was only right to show the actual numbers for each team.
Chicago Bears (30)
(Decatur Staleys - 1920 | Chicago Staleys - 1921)
Bill George (1952-1965)
Bill Hewitt (1932-1936)
Brian Urlacher (2000-2012)
Bronko Nagurski (1930-1937, 1943)
Clyde Turner (1940-1952)
Dan Fortmann (1936-1943)
Dan Hampton (1979-1990)
Dick Butkus (1965-1973)
Doug Atkins (1955-1966)
Ed Healey (1922-1927)
Ed Sprinkle (1944-1955)
Gale Sayers (1965-1971)
George Blanda (1949-1958)
George Connor (1948-1955)
George Halas (1920-1983)
George McAfee (1940-1941, 1945-1950)
George Musso (1933-1944)
George Trafton (1920-1921, 1923-1932)
Harold (Red) Grange (1925, 1929-1934)
Jimbo Covert (1983-1990)
Jim Finks (1974-1982)
Joe Stydahar (1936-1942, 1945-46)
John Driscoll (1920, 1926-1929, 1956-57)
Mike Ditka (1961-1966)
Mike Singletary (1981-1992)
Richard Dent (1983-1993, 1995)
Sid Luckman (1939-1950)
Stan Jones (1954-1965)
Walter Payton (1975-1987)
William Roy (Link) Lyman (1926-1928, 1930-1931, 1933-1934)
20% of the Bears' HOFers are named George. That's too many Georges.
Green Bay Packers (26)
Arnie Herber (1930-1940)
Bart Starr (1956-1971)
Bobby Dillon (1952-1959)
Brett Favre (1992-2007)
Clarke Hinkle (1932-1941)
Dave Robinson (1963-1972)
Don Hutson (1935-1945)
Earl Lambeau (1919-1949)
Forrest Gregg (1956, 1958-1970)
Henry Jordan (1959-1969)
Herb Adderley (1961-1969)
James Lofton (1978-1986)
Jerry Kramer (1958-1968)
Jim Ringo (1953-1963)
Jim Taylor (1958-1966)
John McNally (1929-1933, 1935-1936)
Mike Michalske (1929-1935, 1937)
Paul Hornung (1957-1962, 1964-1966)
Ray Nitschke (1958-1972)
Reggie White (1993-98)
Robert (Cal) Hubbard (1929-1933, 1935)
Ron Wolf (1991-2001)
Tony Canadeo (1941-1944, 1946-1952)
Vince Lombardi (1959-1967)
Willie Davis (1960-1969)
Willie Wood (1960-1971)
Pittsburgh Steelers (23)
(Pittsburgh Pirates - 1933-1939)
Art Rooney (1933-1988)
Bill Cowher (1992-2006)
Bill Dudley (1942, 1945-1946)
Bobby Layne (1958-1962)
Chuck Noll (1969-1991)
Dan Rooney (1955-2017)
Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000)
Donnie Shell (1974-1987)
Ernie Stautner (1950-1963)
Franco Harris (1972-1983)
Jack Butler (1951-59)
Jack Ham (1971-1982)
Jack Lambert (1974-1984)
Jerome Bettis (1996-2005)
Joe Greene (1969-1981)
John Henry Johnson (1960-1965)
John Stallworth (1974-1987)
Lynn Swann (1974-1982)
Mel Blount (1970-1983)
Mike Webster (1974-1988)
Rod Woodson (1987-1996)
Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983)
Troy Polamalu (2003-2014)
New York Giants (21)
Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans (1936-1943)
Andy Robustelli (1956-1964)
Arnie Weinmeister (1950-1953)
Benny Friedman (1929-1931)
Bill Parcells (1983-1990)
Emlen Tunnell (1948-1958)
Frank Gifford (1952-1960, 1962-1964)
Fran Tarkenton (1967-1971)
George Young (1979-1997)
Harry Carson (1976-1988)
Ken Strong (1933-1935, 1939, 1944-1947)
Lawrence Taylor (1981-1993)
Mel Hein (1931-1945)
Michael Strahan (1993-2007)
Morris (Red) Badgro (1930-1935)
Roosevelt Brown (1953-1965)
Sam Huff (1956-1963)
Steve Owen (1926-1953)
Tim Mara (1925-1959)
Wellington Mara (1937-2005)
Y.A. Tittle (1961-1964)
Washington Redskins (21)
(Boston Braves - 1932 | Boston Redskins - 1933-1936)
Albert Glen (Turk) Edwards (1932-40)
Art Monk (1980-1993)
Bill Dudley (1950-1951, 1953)
Bobby Beathard (1978-1988)
Bobby Mitchell (1962-1968)
Champ Bailey (1999-2003)
Charley Taylor (1964-1975, 1977)
Chris Hanburger (1965-1978)
Cliff Battles (1932-37)
Darrell Green (1983-2002)
George Allen (1971-1977)
George Preston Marshall (1932-69)
Joe Gibbs (1981-1992)
John Riggins (1976-1979, 1981-1985)
Ken Houston (1973-1980)
Ray Flaherty (1936-1942)
Russ Grimm (1981-1991)
Sam Huff (1964-1967, 1969)
Sammy Baugh (1937-1952)
Sonny Jurgensen (1964-1974)
Wayne Millner (1936-1941, 1945)
Dallas Cowboys (19)
Bob Hayes (1965-1974)
Bob Lilly (1961-1974)
Charles Haley (1992-96)
Cliff Harris (1970-1979)
Deion Sanders (1995-99)
Emmitt Smith (1990-2002)
Gil Brandt (1960-1988)
Jerry Jones (1989-present)
Jimmy Johnson (1989-1993)
Larry Allen (1994-2005)
Mel Renfro (1964-1977)
Michael Irvin (1988-1999)
Randy White (1975-1988)
Rayfield Wright (1967-1979)
Roger Staubach (1969-1979)
Tex Schramm (1960-1989)
Tom Landry (1960-1988)
Tony Dorsett (1977-1987)
Troy Aikman (1989-2000)
Los Angeles Rams (19)
(St. Louis Rams - 1995-2015 | Cleveland Rams - 1937-1945)
Bob Waterfield (1945-1952)
Dan Reeves (1941-1971)
David (Deacon) Jones (1961-1971)
Elroy Hirsch (1949-1957)
Eric Dickerson (1983-87)
George Allen (1966-1970)
Isaac Bruce (1994-2007)
Jackie Slater (1976-1995)
Jack Youngblood (1971-1984)
Kevin Greene (1985-1992)
Kurt Warner (1998-2003)
Les Richter (1954-1962)
Marshall Faulk (1999-2005)
Merlin Olsen (1962-1976)
Norm Van Brocklin (1949-1957)
Ollie Matson (1959-1962)
Orlando Pace (1997-2008)
Tom Fears (1948-1956)
Tom Mack (1966-1978)
Las Vegas Raiders (17)
(Oakland Raiders | Los Angeles Raiders - 1982-1994)
Al Davis (1963-2011)
Art Shell (1968-1982)
Dave Casper (1974-1980, 1984)
Fred Biletnikoff (1965-1978)
Gene Upshaw (1967-1981)
George Blanda (1967-1975)
Howie Long (1981-1993)
Jim Otto (1960-1974)
John Madden (1969-1978)
Ken Stabler (1970-79)
Marcus Allen (1982-1992)
Mike Haynes (1983-1989)
Ray Guy (1973-1986)
Ron Wolf (1963-1974, 1978-1989)
Ted Hendricks (1975-1983)
Tim Brown (1988-2003)
Willie Brown (1967-1978)
Cleveland Browns (17)
Bill Willis (1946-1953)
Bobby Mitchell (1958-1961)
Dante Lavelli (1946-1956)
Frank Gatski (1946-1956)
Gene Hickerson (1958-1973)
Jim Brown (1957-1965)
Joe DeLamielleure (1980-1984)
Len Ford (1950-1957)
Leroy Kelly (1964-1973)
Lou Groza (1946-1959, 1961-1967)
Mac Speedie (1946-1952)
Marion Motley (1946-1953)
Mike McCormack (1954-1962)
Otto Graham (1946-1955)
Ozzie Newsome (1978-1990)
Paul Brown (1946-1962)
Paul Warfield (1964-1969, 1976-1977)
Indianapolis Colts (16)
(Baltimore Colts - 1953-1983)
Edgerrin James (1999-2005)
Art Donovan (1953-1961)
Bill Polian (1998-2011)
Don Shula (1963-1969)
Eric Dickerson (1987-1991)
Gino Marchetti (1953-1964, 1966)
Jim Parker (1957-1967)
John Mackey (1963-1971)
Johnny Unitas (1956-1972)
Lenny Moore (1956-1967)
Marshall Faulk (1994-98)
Marvin Harrison (1996-2008)
Raymond Berry (1955-1967)
Ted Hendricks (1969-1973)
Tony Dungy (2002-08)
Weeb Ewbank (1954-1962)
Detroit Lions (16)
(Portsmouth Spartans - 1930-1933)
Alex Karras (1958-1962, 1964-1970)
Alex Wojciechowicz (1938-1946)
Barry Sanders (1989-1998)
Bill Dudley (1947-1949)
Bobby Layne (1950-1958)
Charlie Sanders (1968-1977)
Dick LeBeau (1959-1972)
Dick Lane (1960-1965)
Dick Stanfel (1952-55)
Doak Walker (1950-1955)
Earl Clark (1931-32, 1934-38)
Jack Christiansen (1951-1958)
Joe Schmidt (1953-1965)
Lem Barney (1967-1977)
Lou Creekmur (1950-1959)
Yale Lary (1952-1953, 1956-1964)
San Francisco 49ers (16)
Bill Walsh (1979-1988)
Bob St. Clair (1953-1963)
Charles Haley (1986-1991, 1999)
Dave Wilcox (1964-1974)
Edward DeBartolo, Jr. (1977-2000)
Fred Dean (1981-1985)
Hugh McElhenny (1952-1960)
Jerry Rice (1985-2000)
Jimmy Johnson (1961-1976)
Joe Montana (1979-1992)
Joe Perry (1948-1960, 1963)
Leo Nomellini (1950-1963)
Ronnie Lott (1981-1990)
Steve Young (1987-1999)
Terrell Owens (1996-2003)
Y.A. Tittle (1951-1960)
Minnesota Vikings (15)
Alan Page (1967-1978)
Bud Grant (1967-1983, 1985)
Carl Eller (1964-1978)
Chris Doleman (1985-1993, 1999)
Cris Carter (1990-2001)
Fran Tarkenton (1961-66, 1972-78)
Gary Zimmerman (1986-1992)
Jim Finks (1964-1973)
John Randle (1990-2000)
Mick Tingelhoff (1962-1978)
Paul Krause (1968-1979)
Randall McDaniel (1988-1999)
Randy Moss (1998-2004,2010)
Ron Yary (1968-1981)
Steve Hutchinson (2006-2011)
The rest:
Chicago/St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (14)
Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (13)
Philadelphia Eagles (11)
Buffalo Bills (10)
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers (10)
Miami Dolphins (10)
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (9)
Denver Broncos (8)
New York Jets (7)
New England Patriots (5)
Atlanta Falcons (4)
New Orleans Saints (4)
Seattle Seahawks (4)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4)
Baltimore Ravens (3)
Cincinnati Bengals (1)
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